New Year’s comes but once a year, so it’s worth it to make the festivites memorable. But where’s the best place to be when the clock strikes midnight on December 31? We’ve scoured the world for the best annual celebrations, from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to Berlin’s Brandenberg Gate. The fun doesn't have to stop after New Year's Eve, though, because many cities offer a wide variety of New Year's Day activities as well. Epic fireworks displays, all-night dance parties, one-of-a-kind cultural traditions—you’ll find all these and more in the world’s best places to celebrate New Year’s.
By Michael Alan Connelly
PHOTO: Melissa Madia / Shutterstock
1 OF 20
New York City
It may not be for everyone, but there’s no denying that New Year’s Eve in New York City has an atmosphere that few other cities can rival. Most famous, of course, is the annual gathering of a million people in Times Square to see famous musicians and the ball drop, in which a 12-foot-wide crystal ball weighing nearly 12,000 pounds descends atop One Times Square. For a slightly less chaotic experience, book a reservation at one of the bars or restaurants overlooking Times Square. And for something completely different, consider a nighttime boat ride on New York Harbor, which offers the best views of the midnight fireworks display on Liberty Island.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s New York City Travel Guide
PHOTO: Leanne Vorrias / Shutterstock
2 OF 20
Rio de Janeiro
If Rio is best known for its Carnival festivities, its New Year’s Eve celebration comes in a close second. Iconic Copacabana Beach hosts the world’s largest (and arguably wildest) New Year’s Eve party, in which more than two million people cram onto the two-and-a-half-mile stretch of sand. Known as Réveillon, this uniquely Brazilian celebration that blends religious, traditional, and superstitious beliefs: Locals dress head to toe in white (believed to bring good luck) and toss handfuls of flowers into the ocean as gift to Yemanjá, goddess of the seas. The celebration also includes large oceanfront stages for live musical and dance performances, and a colorful fireworks display at midnight completes the scene.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
PHOTO: auseng / Shutterstock
3 OF 20
Sydney
Sydney has two claims to fame for its New Year’s Eve celebrations: first, because of its location, it’s the first major city where the clock strikes midnight; second, Sydney puts on the largest fireworks display in the world, with one at 9 pm and another at midnight, with the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House making for a striking setting. More than a million people attend the waterfront show, which also includes an air and water show featuring aerial acrobatics, an Aboriginal smoking ceremony that is said to cleanse bad spirits, and the Harbour of Light Parade, a flotilla of more than 50 illuminated boats in the harbor.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Sydney Travel Guide
PHOTO: Brendan Howard / Shutterstock
4 OF 20
Edinburgh
Hogmanay translates to “last day of the year,” but the annual festivities in Edinburgh actually last three days. Things kick off on December 30 with a torchlight procession through the city that culminates in a fireworks finale, while New Year’s Eve is all about massive street parties and outdoor concerts, including a massive, open-air Kelidh (traditional Celtic party). At midnight, 4.5 tons of fireworks explode over Edinburgh Castle while the streets ring out with revelers singing “Auld Lang Syne.” New Year’s Day brings competitive dog sledding across Holyrood Park; brave souls jumping into the ice-cold waters of the River Forth at the conclusion of the Loony Dook parade (a charity event); and Scot:Lands, a multivenue music and arts festival.
PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor’s Edinburgh Travel Guide
PHOTO: Bikeworldtravel / Shutterstock
5 OF 20
London
Londoners ring in the New Year as only they can, to the chiming of Big Ben at midnight. More than 25
